Breeder Focus – Late Night Musings

I sat here pondering several recent conversations, and thoughts kept circulating in my head. This post is the product of those late evening thoughts. Hope you learn something from my rambling.  😉

What We Focus on as Breeders – and Why It Matters

Breeding is far more than pairing two dogs and hoping for a great outcome. Ethical, preservation breeders know that every decision today will shape the breed’s future for decades to come. The focus of any breeding program is often influenced by what each dog brings to the table—its strengths, weaknesses, and potential. The goal is to preserve and improve the breed, not just produce puppies.

Type vs. Style – Knowing the Difference

In dog breeding, type is the set of essential features that define a breed—those traits that, when you see the dog, make you instantly recognize it as that breed. In Standard Poodles, this includes correct proportions, head shape, movement, coat texture, and temperament according to the breed standard.

Style, on the other hand, is a personal or regional interpretation of that type. For example, two dogs can both be correct in type, but one may have a more refined outline while another is more robust. Style is what gives variety within type, but it must never override breed-defining traits. Breeders must be vigilant not to let style drift into breeding away from correct type.

Pedigree Research, COI, and Genetic Diversity

A thoughtful breeder studies pedigrees deeply—generations back—looking at the dogs who came before and the traits they consistently pass on.

The Coefficient of Inbreeding (COI) is a measure of how closely related the sire and dam are. While some level of linebreeding can set desirable traits, a consistently high COI can reduce genetic diversity, increasing the risk of inherited health issues.

Tools like BetterBred and the Canine Genetic Diversity Project help breeders evaluate not only COI but also how genetically similar or different two dogs are at the DNA level. This allows breeders to make more informed decisions to maintain genetic health while preserving type.

Health Testing as a Breeding Foundation

No breeding decision should be made without comprehensive health testing for conditions known to affect the breed. For Standard Poodles, this includes hips, eyes, thyroid, heart, sebaceous adenitis, and various DNA tests for inherited diseases. Health testing:

• Reduces the risk of producing affected puppies
• Protects the reputation of the breeder and the breed
• Preserves the trust of puppy owners

Skipping health testing isn’t saving money—it’s gambling with lives.

The Wholistic Preservation Breeder

A wholistic (or holistic) preservation breeder looks at the whole dog—not just one or two traits in isolation. They consider:

• Breed type and adherence to the standard
• Health testing results
• Temperament and trainability
• Pedigree depth and genetic diversity
• Structure and movement
• The long-term impact of their choices on the breed

They are not breeding for a fad, a quick sale, or what’s easiest. They are thinking in decades, not litters.

Solving the Puzzle – Many Strategic Moves over Generations

Every breeding is a puzzle, and no two pairings are exactly the same. While the foundation—health-tested, cleared parents with stable, sound temperaments—remains non-negotiable, the goals for each litter can vary greatly.

For example, in one pairing, a breeder might be working to eliminate an undesirable trait. That could mean seeking a mate with very different genetics, pedigree, or style to help dilute or remove that feature from the line. These are often more diverse pairings, bringing in new influences to improve the overall balance without losing type or function.

In another pairing, the goal may be to lock in an exceptional feature—perhaps a beautiful head, ideal movement, or outstanding front assembly. In those cases, the breeder may look for a mate with a similar strength and consistent pedigree behind it. These strong type pairings can help cement desired qualities so they’re more likely to appear in future generations.

The pieces are different for each pairing, but still need to fit together for the desired outcomes. Thoughtful breeding is never a “cookie cutter” formula—it’s a tailored strategy where every match is made with a purpose, always balancing the preservation of the breed standard with the unique needs of that specific line.

Breeding Away from the Standard – Why It Harms the Breed

Some breeders choose to breed “off standard” to appeal to a specific market—producing dogs for uncommon colors, exaggerated sizes (larger or smaller), or exaggerated angles because “that’s what sells.” This is not preservation breeding. It often involves:

• Ignoring the breed standard’s requirements for structure and temperament
• Overlooking health or genetic diversity
• Selecting solely for market trends rather than breed integrity

While these breeders may claim they’re “just giving people what they want,” the reality is that every litter bred away from the standard chips away at what makes the breed unique. Over time, this erodes both the physical and behavioral qualities that preservation breeders work so hard to protect.

In short: Ethical breeders focus on health, type, and temperament first—using science, history, and a deep love for the breed as their guide. Every dog we breed should be a worthy representative of its heritage, ensuring that the next generation is not just healthy and sound, but unmistakably the breed it was meant to be.

Breeders who Show their Dogs

Breeders show their dogs to have them evaluated against the breed standard by impartial judges. This isn’t just about winning ribbons—it’s about proving that the dog meets the structural, movement, and temperament requirements the breed was created for.

Using UKC Grand Champions and AKC Champions in a breeding program means those dogs have consistently beaten other quality dogs under multiple judges, demonstrating they are correct in type, sound in structure, and possess the proper temperament. Titles also show that the dog has the stamina, trainability, and presence to excel in the ring—traits worth preserving for future generations.

Campaigning a Dog

To campaign a dog means to actively show it in competitions—often over an extended period and in multiple locations—with the goal of earning high-level titles, rankings, or national recognition.

Campaigning usually involves:

• Entering many shows, sometimes across states or regions

• Working with a professional handler (in AKC, especially) or showing the dog yourself

• Traveling extensively

• Investing time and money in grooming, entry fees, and travel costs

It’s a strategic effort to showcase the dog’s quality to the breed community, prove its consistency in competition, and strengthen its reputation (and that of the breeding program) for future breeding plans.

Why purchase from Holistic Preservation Breeders

People should seek a puppy from holistic preservation breeders who show their dogs because those breeders are proving—in public, under expert judges—that their dogs meet the breed standard in structure, movement, and temperament.

A show title isn’t just a ribbon—it’s proof the dog is a healthy, correct representative of its breed. Pair that with full health testing, stable temperaments, and thoughtful pedigree planning, and you’re getting a puppy whose parents were chosen to improve the breed, not just produce puppies.

And if you’re thinking, “I don’t want a show dog, I just want a pet,” here’s the secret: the very same qualities that make a dog a great show dog—sound structure, balanced temperament, and good health—are exactly what make them exceptional companions.

Holistic preservation breeders think in decades, not litters—balancing health, type, temperament, and genetic diversity so your puppy isn’t just beautiful, but healthy, stable, and true to its heritage.